Hot tub cover

ABSTRACT

A hot tub cover for reversibly covering the top aperture of the tub. The other tub cover includes a plurality of substantially elongated cover elements disposed in a side by side relationship relatively to each other. Each of the cover elements is pivotally coupled to adjacent cover elements. The hot tub cove is retractable from the top aperture by rolling the hot tub cover around itself. Also, the hot tub cover is extendable over the top aperture by unrolling the rolled hot tub cover.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/193,748 filed Dec. 22, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general field of hot tubs, and spas, and is more specifically concerned with a hot tub cover.

BACKGROUND

Hot tubs and spas typically lose relatively large amounts of heat through their top apertures. This is especially the case when these hot tubs have water that is kept at relatively warm temperatures permanently and, this is even more the case when such hot tubs are installed outside, which can result in very large heat losses during the cold season. To reduce the energy costs of operating these hot tubs, it is common to cover the hot tub with a hot tub cover when they are not in use.

However, currently known and used hot tub covers are typically relatively cumbersome to operate. Indeed, a hot tub cover that is commonly used includes two relatively large substantially rigid panels hinged to each other at the middle of the hot tub cover. Because of the dimensions and weight of this hot tub cover, manipulation of this hot tub cover is relatively difficult to perform by a single person and can also cause injuries to soft tissues of a relatively weak person trying to handle this hot tub cover. In addition, this type of hot tub cover typically has a hinge that is made out of only a substantially thin and flexible piece of material, this piece of material being typically a continuation of a piece of material covering the top surface of the hot tub cover. Because of the relatively small thickness of this piece of material, and because of the type of material used in manufacturing these hot tub covers, there are typically relatively large heat losses at this hinge. Also, typically used hot tub covers have flaps that extend substantially downwardly therefrom at the periphery of the hot tub to try to reduce heat losses at the periphery. However, these flaps are typically only marginally effective in achieving this goal and allow relatively large amounts of heat to exit from the periphery of the hot tub cover.

Against this background, there exists a need in the industry to provide an improved hot tub cover. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide such a hot tub cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect, the invention provides a hot tub cover for reversibly covering the top aperture of the hot tub. The hot tub cover includes a plurality of substantially elongated cover elements disposed in a side by side relationship relatively to each other. Each of the cover elements is pivotally coupled to adjacent cover elements. The hot tub cover is retractable from the top aperture by rolling the hot tub cover around itself. Also, the hot tub cover is extendable over the top aperture by unrolling the rolled hot tub cover.

Advantageously, the proposed hot tub cover is relatively easily retracted from the top aperture and deployed across the top aperture by a single user using a relatively small amount of force and without the requirement of fine motor control.

The proposed hot tub cover is also relatively easily manufacturable using known components and techniques at relatively low costs.

In some embodiments of the invention, brackets are provided substantially adjacent to the top aperture of the hot tub for receiving the hot tub cover in a retracted configuration in which the hot tub cover is retracted from the top aperture.

In some embodiments of the invention, the cover elements are sandwiched between two substantially thermally insulating materials so as to further reduce heat losses through the hot tub cover.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawing:

FIG. 1, in a perspective view, illustrates a hot tub cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the hot tub cover being shown covering a hot tub;

FIG. 2, in a side elevation view, illustrates the hot tub cover and hot tub shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, in a perspective view, illustrates a bracket usable for storing the proposed hot tub cover in a retracted configuration;

FIG. 4, in a top elevation view with portions removed, illustrates the hot tub cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, in a side cross-sectional view, illustrates the hot tub cover shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4; and

FIG. 6, in an exploded view with portions removed, illustrates the hot tub cover shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a hot tub cover 10 for covering a hot tub 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The hot tub 12 defines a hot tub bottom wall 14, a hot tub peripheral wall 16 extending substantially upwardly from the hot tub bottom wall 14 and a hot tub flange 18 (seen in FIG. 2) extending substantially outwardly from the hot tub peripheral wall 16 substantially opposed to the hot tub bottom wall 14. The hot tub flange 18 typically delimitates a top aperture 20. The hot tub cover 10 is usable for reversibly covering the top aperture 20 of the hot tub 12.

In some embodiments of the invention, brackets 22 are attached to the hot tub peripheral wall 16 so as to be able to receive the hot tub cover 10. More specifically, the hot tub cover 10 is movable between an extended configuration, wherein the hot tub cover 10 extends across the top aperture 20, and a retracted configuration, wherein the hot tub cover 10 is substantially retracted from the top aperture 20. In the retracted configuration, the hot tub cover 10 is rolled unto itself and received by the brackets 22.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the hot tub cover 10 includes a plurality of substantially elongated cover elements 24 disposed in a side by side relationship relatively to each other. The cover elements 24 are pivotally coupled to adjacent cover elements 24, which allows for rolling the hot tub cover 10 around itself to achieve the retracted configuration or to unroll the hot tub cover 10 to achieve the extended configuration. In some embodiments of the invention, the cover element 24 that is located substantially adjacent to the brackets 22 is attached to the brackets 22 using a fastener, such as, for example, a screw, inserted in a suitably located aperture (not shown in the drawings).

As seen in FIG. 6, in some embodiments of the invention, a seal 26 is provided on the side of the cover elements 24 that faces the top aperture 20 when the hot tub cover 10 is in the extended configuration. Also, an exterior layer 28 is provided substantially opposed to the seal 26 and covers the cover elements 24 on the other side of the cover elements 24. The exterior layer 28 defines an exterior layer peripheral edge 30.

With reference to FIG. 5, each of the cover elements 24 includes a shell 32 having a substantially elongated configuration with a substantially longitudinally constant cross-sectional configuration, which is, for example, substantially arcsegment shaped. The shell 32 contains a filler 34. Typically, the shell 32 is made out of a polymer or a metal, and the filler 34 is made out of a relatively thermally insulating material such as, for example, a foam. The shell 32 is terminated at each end thereof by an end cap 36 (seen in FIG. 4) engaging the shell 32 so as to substantially hermetically close each of the cover elements 24, as seen in FIG. 4.

Each of the shells 32 is provided by substantially laterally opposed first and second hooks 38 and 40, the first and second hooks 38 and 40 being provided between the seal 26 and the exterior layer 28. The first hook 38 of one of the cover elements 24 engages the second hook 40 of an adjacent cover element 24. Typically, the first hooks 38 have a substantially longitudinally constant cross-sectional configuration, this cross-sectional configuration being substantially J-shaped, and protrude outwardly from the shell 32. Also, the second hooks 40 have a substantially longitudinally constant substantially L-shaped cross-sectional configuration and the shells 32 define a recess 42 substantially adjacent the hooks second 40 for receiving a substantially arc-segment shaped portion of the first hooks 38. The first and second hooks 38 and 40 create a hinge between adjacent cover elements 24 and the shape of each of the shells 32 of adjacent cover elements 24 prevents excess pivotal movement between the adjacent cover elements 24, which causes the first and second hooks 38 and 40 to be permanently engaged to each other under pivotal movement between the cover elements 24. In other words, the first and second hooks 38 and 40, along with the recess 42, are configured and sized such that only longitudinal movements of two adjacent cover elements 24 relatively to each other allow for detachment of these two cover elements 24 from each other. Such attachment of adjacent elongated elements is known in the art and will not be described in further details.

In some embodiments of the invention, one side of each cover element 24 is provided with a seal 26. The seal 26 is provided on the surface of the cover elements 24 that faces the top aperture 20 when hot tub cover 10 is in the extended configuration. Typically, the seal 26 is provided for sealing the hot tub cover 10 against the hot tub flange 18 so as to substantially prevent heat losses through conduction or convection through the interface between the hot tub cover 10 and the hot tub flange 18. The seal 26 is typically made of a relatively thermally insulating material that is substantially resilient and compressible so as to facilitate sealing of the seal 26 against the hot tub flange 18. For example, the seal 26 is made out of a foam made out of polymeric material defining air-filled bubbles thereinto. However, other suitable materials are also usable to provide the seal 26. Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention not shown in the drawings, the seal 26 is provided only on the portion of the hot tub cover 10 that is substantially facing the hot tub flange 18 when the hot tub cover 10 is in the extended configuration. In other words, in these embodiments, the seal 26 is provided only at the periphery of the hot tub cover 10.

Referring to FIG. 6, the exterior layer 28 includes a membrane 44, which is typically substantially water- and vapour-proof, abutting against the surface of the cover elements 24 located further away from the top aperture 20 when the hot tub cover 10 is in the extended configuration. For example, the membrane 44 is made out of polyethylene and is glued to the cover elements 24 for preventing substantially longitudinal movements of the cover elements 24 between each other. Use of polyethylene is also advantageous as this material is substantially water- and vapour-proof which, therefore, substantially prevents hot air and moisture from escaping from the hot tub 12 through the spacing between the cover elements 24.

An insulator 46 covers the membrane 44. In some embodiments of the invention, the insulator 46 includes a pair of aluminized polymer sheets sandwich a material defining air bubbles, such as the material being commonly known under the name of “bubble wrap”. However, other types of insulator are also usable to provide the same functionality.

The exterior layer 28 is typically provided with fours flaps 48 extending from the exterior layer peripheral edge 30. Each of the flaps 48 defines a flap proximal end 50 and an opposed flap distal end 52, the flap proximal end 50 extending from the exterior layer peripheral edge 30 and the flap distal end 52 being substantially spaced apart from the exterior layer peripheral edge 30. The flap distal end 52 is typically folded over itself to create a passageway 54 extending along the entire flap distal end 52.

In some embodiments of the invention, a string 56 is inserted through the passageways 54 of all four flaps 48 to allow securing of the flaps 48 to the hot tub peripheral wall 16 by tying the ends of the string 56 to each other. In other embodiments of the invention, the string 56 is replaced by a band of a substantially elastic material extending through all the passageways 54 of the four flaps 48, which therefore allows the hot tub cover 10 to be operated between the extended and the retracted configurations while also allowing biasing the flap distal ends 52 toward the hot tub peripheral wall 16 in the extended configuration. In some embodiments of the invention, the flaps 48 are sewn to the exterior layer 28 and attached thereto using rivets. However, any other method of attaching the flaps 48 to the exterior layer 28 is within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the brackets 22. The brackets 22 each include a cover receiving section 60, for example having a substantially C-shaped configuration, and an attachment section 62 extending from the cover receiving section 60. The attachment section 62 is provided for attaching the bracket 22 to the hot tub peripheral wall 16 so that the cover receiving section 60 is provided substantially adjacent to the hot tub flange 18. Typically, two or three brackets 22 are provided for receiving the hot tub cover 10 in the retracted configuration, but any other number of brackets is usable, the number of brackets depending on the material used to manufacture the brackets 22 and on the dimensions and the rigidity of these brackets 22.

The attachment section 22 defines attachment sections first, second and third segments 64, 66 and 68, along with a reinforcing segment 72 for reinforcing the attachment section, first, second and third segments 64, 66 and 68. More specifically, the attachment section first segment 64 extends from the cover receiving section 60. The attachment section second segment 66 extends substantially perpendicularly to the attachment section first segment 64 substantially opposed to the cover receiving section 60. The attachment section third segment 68 extends substantially parallel to the attachment section first segment 64 from the attachment section second segment 66 substantially opposed to the attachment section first segment 64. Therefore, the attachment section first, second and third segments 64, 66 and 68 have together a substantially flattened Z-shaped configuration. The attachment section second segment 66 spaces apart the attachment section first and third segments 64 and 68 from each other for allowing the attachment section 62 to clear the hot tub flange 18. Typically, the attachment section third segment 68 is attached to the hot tub peripheral wall 16 using fasteners 70 such as, for example, screws, inserted in apertures 71 that extend through the attachment section third segment.

The reinforcing segment 72 extends from the cover receiving section 60 toward the attachment section third segment 68 and intersects the junction of the attachment section first and second segments 64 and 66. The reinforcing segment 72 is therefore provided for adding rigidity to the bracket 22.

In some embodiments of the invention, an attachment hook 74 is provided substantially opposed to the attachment section 62 on the cover receiving section 60 and a substantially resilient piece of material 76 extends from the cover receiving section 60 substantially opposed to the attachment hook 74, the resilient piece of material 76 is attached to a hook 78 for removable attachment to the hook 74. Therefore, the hot tub cover 10 is securable in the retracted configuration relatively easily by extending the resilient piece of material 76 across the gap in which the hot tub cover 10 is received and attaching the hook 78 to the hook 74.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A hot tub cover for reversibly covering a top aperture of a hot tub, said hot tub cover comprising a plurality of substantially elongated cover elements disposed in a side-by-side relationship relatively to each other, each of said cover elements being pivotally coupled to adjacent cover elements, whereby said hot tub cover is retractable from said top aperture by enrolling said hot tub cover around itself.
 2. A hot tub cover as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover elements are provided with a seal for sealing said cover elements against said hot tub.
 3. A hot tub cover as defined in claim 1, further comprising a bracket mountable to said hot tub substantially adjacent to said top aperture for receiving said hot tub cover therein.
 4. A hot tub cover as defined in claim 3, wherein said bracket defines a substantially C-shaped cover receiving portion.
 5. A hot tub cover as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover elements have a substantially arcsegment shaped cross-sectional configuration.
 6. A hot tub cover as defined in claim 1, further comprising a vapor-proof membrane extending above said cover elements.
 7. A hot tub cover as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said cover elements includes a substantially rigid outer shell and a substantially thermally insulating material filling said outer shell. 